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04/03/2023 02:46 PMThe Morgan Huskies golf team is coming off a successful campaign in which they finished both conference and overall competition play with a winning record. As the team looks to hit the course again this spring, they will have to do it with a lot of fresh faces and a refurbished roster as they look to get themselves back to prominence.
Head Coach Eric Bergman and the Huskies sport a 14-player roster this season, with the lone captain, Ray Swan, being called upon to set an example for the rest of the squad.
“Ray is a natural leader, he mentors some of our younger players,” said Bergman. “Anytime I select captains, I always try to find someone whose behavior and disposition the younger players can model.”
Along with the small number of boys on the team, there are also a couple girls that practice with them, including Kirsten Amendola (senior) and Maggie West (junior).
“They practiced with the team last year and we had a couple of scrimmage events against other girl players,” said Bergman. “We do not have a formal program for them, however, they compete as a practice player or at any informal events that I and other coaches put together.”
The Huskies compete in the Shoreline Athletic Conference (SLC) for conference play and Division III for states play. Last season, the team finished with an SLC record of 8-2 and an overall record of 12-5.
Bergman noted that the team graduated several seniors last year, and a very top player transferred to Xavier. Bergman is hoping to see production from several players this campaign, including Jack Nye (junior), Robert Bergman (sophomore), Sean Davis (junior), and Jacob Jones (junior).
“Ray and Jack are really the only ones returning with any varsity experience. There are some big holes to fill, we will compete,” said Bergman. “I like to think that we will be in the middle of the mix. It looks as though Portland, North Branford and Cromwell will be the teams to beat.”
For every match, each school selects five players to compete against the other team, and Bergman has an effective system for determining who those athletes are.
“I identify my top players by one, two, three, four, and five. My ones and twos will compete against the other team’s top two in a foursome. The same thing will happen with the threes and fours,” said Bergman. “The fives and a practice player go out and compete against each other. Of the five scoring players, the four best are calculated and whatever the total is against the opponent’s total, the lowest total is the winner.”
With their first match approaching soon, Bergman explained that it is one of the team’s earliest competitions that they have ever had before spring break, and one that could go a lot of different directions for Morgan.
“We like Coginchaug, we will probably be a little raw. I do not know much about their team besides one returning player who made the Second Team All-Conference last year,” said Bergman. “Other than that, it is hard to tell. They have a great program up there and have access to Lyman Orchards, so you always expect great things from Coginchaug.”
Bergman also enjoys the social aspect of golf, and hopes to see his players form connections with opposing golfers this spring.
“Golf is a different type of sport, they are not Al Bravado, they have to go out and talk with these guys. Sometimes they make friends and these friendships last for quite some time,” said Bergman. “I just love to see how my players handle themselves amongst strangers and then at the same time handle themselves as gentlemen. It is really something to behold.”
Swan, Nye, and Bergman are the only returning players this season, but Bergman is confident in the growth and progression of each individual and the team as a whole.
“We had 28 players come out for the team, unfortunately we had to make some cuts for the first time in program history. We are down to about 14 players, and of those there are a few that are relatively new,” said Bergman. “It just seemed that some of those players had some natural ability that we could foster throughout the progression of the season.”
A few of those players that Bergman looks to see progress this season include Tyler Baldwin (junior), Jones, and Kolby Clifton (junior).
“A lot is going to depend on how often they are going to be able to go out onto the range and practice. It is a short season, the weather is unpredictable, and I have had teams like this before,” said Bergman. “They have found their rhythm and it is going to be a struggle this year. I would like to think that with some good leadership from Swan, we can accomplish some things. I think we are at least a .500 team at this point.”
The Huskies full roster includes Baldwin, Jake Beermuender (freshman), Bergman, Nikolas Clados (sophomore), Clifton, Davis, Colby Guptill (junior), Demani Howard (sophomore), Jones, Nye, Patrick O’Niel (junior), Swan, and two practice players in West and Amendola.
Bergman has been with the team for 17 years and is assisted by Arron Outama.
Huskies Boys’ Golf 2023 Schedule
Tuesday April 4: vs Coginchaug at 3 p.m.
Monday April 17: vs Cromwell, Fitch at 3 p.m.
Tuesday April 18: vs Branford at 3 p.m.
Thursday April 20: vs Valley Regional at 3:15 p.m.
Wednesday April 26: vs Portland at 2:45 p.m.
Thursday April 27: vs Guilford at 2:15 p.m.
Monday May 1: vs Hale Ray at 3 p.m.
Tuesday May 2: vs North Branford at 3 p.m.
Thursday May 4: vs Waterford, Montville at 3 p.m.
Monday May 8: vs Old Lyme at 3 p.m.
Tuesday May 9: vs East Hampton at 3 p.m.
Thursday May 11: vs Haddam-Killingworth at 3 p.m.
Tuesday May 16: vs Old Saybrook at 3:45 p.m.
Wednesday May 17: vs Fitch at 2:45 p.m.
Monday May 22: vs Branford at 3 p.m.
Tuesday May 23: Shoreline Conference Championship at 9 a.m.
Thursday May 25: vs Daniel Hand at 2:45 p.m.